File 619/1907 Pt 10 'Arms traffic:- Persian Gulf. Prize Money for captures in Persian Gulf.' [‎120r] (244/424)

. 0 " J ' ;^ e 1 ^ overnm Gnt of India realised tiiat, for diplomatic reasons, His
Majesty s Government had hitherto considered it advisable to defer making
any request to the F rench Government in regard to the arms trade, but they
hoped that the present moment might be regarded as a propitious*' one for
taking action in the matter. They suggested that, in approaching the
r rench Government, (1) the nature and far-reaching consequences ” of the
evil might be explained to them, “ as they are probably not fully known
except to ourselves and to' the other countries that suffer ” ; and (2) it
might be pointed out that British trade would stand to lose more heavily
even than French by the proposed prohibition, more than half the traffic
being still in English hands.
As proposals of secondary importance, “ which should certainly not be
Subsidiary proposals. “ flowed to delay action on what we
regard as the vital question of stopping
the trade at Muskat, the Government of India recommended :—
(1.) I hat the Muskat Proclamation of 1898 (see paragraph 8 and
Appendix k I.) should be revised in such a manner as to cover the
export of arms from Muskat, not only to Indian and Persian ports,
but also to any port whatever in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .|
(2.) That the Muskat Proclamation should be amended so as to enlarge
our powers in regard to the seizure of arms.
(3.) That the Turkish Government should be asked to allow British ships
of war, “ whether in Koweit waters or in Turkish territorial
waters in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. outside the Shatt-el-Arab,” to search
vessels suspected of carrying arms, including those flying the
Turkish flag.
(4.) That, “ in the event, which we trust is unlikely, of its being found
“ impossible to concert measures with France for complete abolition
“ of the arms trade in the near future,” the restriction placed upon
British subjects in Muskat in June 1898 (see paragraph 8 and
Appendix VIII.) should be removed, “so as to secure the arms
trade remaining, as far as possible while it exists, in the hands
“ of British subjects.”
33. In reply to their Despatch of 21st February 1907, the Government of
Mr. Morley’s Despatch, 29th March India were mformed^ on the 29th March
1907. " 1907 that His Majesty’s Government
473/07. did no t consider the present moment
opportune for making representations to the Powers concerned, but were of
opinion that the better course would be “ to continue for the present the
“ collection of information and statistics with a view to bringing the various
“ recommendations made by the Government of India before the Arms
“ Conference which is to assemble at Brussels early in 1908.”
34. It was hoped that the object in view might be achieved as a result
„ . . ^ . OAO of the Brussels International Arms
Brussels Arms Conference, 1908. Conference by some arrangement for
bringing Muskat within the scope of the General Act of the Brussels
Convention of 1890,£ under which the traffic in arms is prohibited on the
* It was pointed out that considerable concessions had been made to 1 ranee in the
negotiations arising out of the Hague Arbitration Award of 1904 (respecting the use of the
French flag by Muskat dhows), and that a settlement of this question satisfactory to the
French G-overnment appeai-ed to be within sight.
J" This was a revival of the proposal made by the Government of India in 1904 (see
above, paragraph 16). The Government of India pointed out that the reasons, based on the
state of tribal affairs in Central Arabia, which caused the proposal to be dropped in 1904, no
longer held good in 1907, as the Wahabi Amir had established so strong a position as to be
independent of indii’ect aid.
J The Brussels Act of 1890 requires any one of the signatory Powers that has occasion to
authorise the traffic in arms in territories of its own lying within the regions affected by the
provisions of the Act, to establish a “ public warehouse,” under the control of its local adminis
tration, in which all imported arms must be deposited, and from which they may not be
withdrawn without the previous authorisation of the administration.